Snake River

 Snake River day!    Marriott lazy morning – folding clean laundry - snacking – watching cooking chanel and resting.   COVID again changes many things:  the breakfast at the hotel is a serve line instead of self serve, which I’m completely happy with, but this Spring Hill Suites does not have a well organized plan and the line wrapped around the lobby so we opted out.   Peanut butter and bread will be our staple before rafting!

Around 12:00 we checked out and drove north to the meeting point for the raft trip.  Since we were early, we drove into the National Park for a little while.   In the limited time we had, we walked a service road to a stream where we could walk across a really cool old log bridge.  On the other side, we found a grouping of log homes, buildings built by Rockefeller and one 1913 home built by a woman, Maggie I think, who moved out here, went to college and was the first woman to climb to the peak of Grand Teton.   

Meet up with the raft guides at 1:15 just outside Teton NP entrance.  We pulled in just about the same time as the Allens.  Our sweet friends actually booked this trip for us when we discovered we would be in the same town on the same night!  We randomly booked at the same hotel as well.  What a blessing!  Our girls are dear friends.  The foat was 11 miles so we had a short van ride to the drop off site, donned life jackets and got the rules of the water.   The float raft is so different from any raft we’ve been in before.  It has carpet on the floor, extra wide and long with and outside boarder tube to reduce the amount of splashing passengers receive.  It was a playground for the girls who were just beyond happy to be together!  They acted like they haven’t seen each other in a year.  This is such a fantasic way to see the Tetons and so peaceful!  Our guide, Justin, was fantastic.  He was great about sharing information requested, accommodating picture times and letting the kids row the raft.  I can highly recommend Solitude for rafting.  The kids were thrilled by some small white cap areas of the water, we spotted a pair mule deer and a bald eagle flying downstream.   Without three giggly girls aboard, this would be the most peaceful trip!  Not that I would change the current company aboard at all!  

Wrapping up the float, we decided to meet back at the hotel, change and walk across the street to have dinner at Cutty’s.  We were able to sit out on the lawn even.  That turned out to be a huge bonus when the Allen’s food took so long and the kids needed to move around.    After dinner, we took turns showering and watching the kids in the pool so that they could have all the minutes together they possibly could.  We are at the Pony Express Motel – old and quaint with a queen bed and bunk in the corner.  Nothing special but comfortable and the old fashioned motel, outside facing doors, is always fun!  Night, night Jackson Hole.  We didn’t see much of you but had some nice rest and company.